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Cotton, „The Keyes”, ch. IV, Of the Subject to whom the Key of Church priviledge, power or Libertie is given, vergeleken met Pol. Eccl. I, 119, 120:
Cotton 1: The church of brethren hath the power, priviledges and liberty to choose theyr Officers. In the choice of an Apostle into the place of Judas, the people went as far as humane vote and suffrage could goe. Out of 120 persons (Acts 1 v. 15) they chose out, and presented two; out of which two ... God by lot chose one; And yet this one so chosen of God ... (ver. 26) was counted amongst the Apostles by the common suffrages of them all. And this place Cyprian presseth amongst others, to confirm the power ... of the people in choosing or refusing their ministers. Plebs Christiana (saith he) vel maxime potestatem habet, vel dignos sacerdotes elegendi, vel indignos recusandi, Epistol. 4, lib. I. — The like or greater liberty is generally approved by the best of our divines ... from Act. 14, 23: They ordained them elders, chosen by lifting up of hands. — The same power is clearly expressed in the choice of deacons, Act. 6. 3, 5, 6. The Apostles did not choose the deacons, but called the multitude together, and said unto them, Brethren look you out seven men amongst you, whom wee may appoint over this businesse ... and they chose Stephen, etc. (p. 12, 13). — Voetius (sub II, 1): Quod electionem pastorum, seniorum, diaconorum in et sum synedrio peragit, suffragando vel expresse et vocaliter, vel per scrutinium, vel per silentium. Innititur sensus et praxis ecclesiarum nostrarum textibus Actor. 1
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v. 15 cum 26, Actor 14, 23 et 6. 3, 5, 6, et consensui ac praxi antiquissimae ecclesiae (I, 119).
Cotton 2: It is a priviledge, or a liberty the church hath received, to sent forth one or more of their elders, as the publiek service of Christ and of the church may require. Thus Epaphroditus was a messenger or Apostle of the church of Philippi unto Paul, Phil. 2. 25. — Voetius zegt van het volk (sub II, 6): Quod etiam ab ipso seu ipsius cum conscientia et consensu eligantur et mittantur delegati sive presbyteri sive allii ad alias ecclesias, sive ad auxilium praestandum, sive ad consilium petendum, aut ad collectas faciendas, aut ad controversias determinandas, aut ad ecclesias plantandas et infideles convertendos, Philipp 2. 25, 2 Cor. 8 v. 18, 19, Actor. 15. 2 et 13 v. 1, 2, 3, 7, (I, 119, 120).
Cotton 3: The brethren of the church have power and liberty of propounding any just exception against such as offer them-selves to be admitted unto their communion, or unto the seals of it: Hence Saul, when he offered himselfe to the communion of the church at Jerusalem, was not at first admitted thereto, upon an exception taken against him by the Disciples, till that exception was removed, Act. 9. 26, 27, and Peter did not admit the family of Cornelius to Baptisme, till he had inquired of the brethren, if any of them had any exception against it, Act. 10. 47. — Voetius (sub II, 2): Quod a membrorum receptione, eorundemque dimissione et dandis testimoniis populus non excluditur ... Tale quid elici videtur ex Actor. 10. 47 et 9. 26, 27. (I, 119).
Cotton 4: As the brethren have a power of order, and the priviledge to expostulate with their brethren, in case of private scandals, according to the rule Matth. 18. 15, 16, so in case of publiek scandall, the whole church of brethren have power and priviledge to joyn with the elders, in inquiring, hearing, judging of publiek scandals; so as to hinde notorious offenders and impenitents under censure, and to forgive the repentant: For when Christ commandeth a brother, in case that offence cannot be healed privately, then to teil the church, Matth. 18. 17, it necessarily implyeth that the church must heare him, and inquire into the offence complained of, and judge of the offence as they find it upon inquiry. When the brethren that were of the circumcision expostulated with Peter about his communion with Cornelius, and his uncircumcised family, Peter did not reject them ... as transgressing the bounds of their just power ..., but readily
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adressed himself to give satisfaction to them all, Act. 11. 2 to 18. The brethren of the church of Corinth being gathered together with their elders, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and with his power, did deliver the incestuous person to Satan, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5. And Paul reproveth them all, brethren as well as elders, that they had no sooner put him away from amongst them, v. 2, and expresly he alloweth to them all power to judge them that are within, v. 22 Yea, and from thence argueth, in all the saints, even in the meanest of the saints, an ability to judge between brethren, in the things if this life, as those that have received such a spirit of discerning from Christ, by which they shall one day judge the world, even angels, so in the next chapter, the 6 of that 1 Cor. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And the same brethren of the same church, as well as the elders, he intreateth to forgive the same incestuous Corinthian upon his repentance, 2 Cor. 2. 7, 8. — Voetius (sub III, 1 en 4): 1. Quod expostulare possint non tantum seorsim in casu privatae offensae (sic! offence) et scandali, Matth. 18. 15, 16, sed et collectim una cum suo presbyterio in casu scandali publici, immo et judi-care Matth. 18. 17 coll. cum 1 Cor. 5 v. 4, 5, 22 et c. 6. 3, 4, 5 et 2 Thess. 3. 14. — 4. Quod potestatem habeat lapsos et poenitentes ad reconciliationem admittendi, 2 Cor. 2 v. 7, 8.
Cotton 5: The church hath liberty in case of dissension amongst themselves to resort to a Synod, Act. 15. 1, 2. Where also it appeareth the brethren enjoyed this libertie to dispute their doubts till they were satisfied, v. 7, 12, to joyn with the Apostles and elders in the definitive sentence, and in the promulgation of the same, v. 22, 23. — Voetius (sub II, 4 en 5): 4. Quod dubia sua ad synodum deferant aut deferri curent Actor. 15. 2. — 5. Quod controversiae in synodis coram ipso tractari, et determinari possint, immo nomine ac de consensu eorum, consequente scil., sive explicito sive implicito, decreta synodica emanare Actor. 15. 22, 23.
Cotton 6: The sixth liberty of the church is, to withdraw from the communion of those, whom they want authority to excommunicate. For as they set up the Presbyterie, by professing their subjection to them in the Lord, so they avoid them by professed withdrawing their subjection from them according to God. — Voetius (sub III, 2 en 3): 2. Quod ab ἀτάκτοις se subducere possint ... 3. Quod haec potestas se extendat etiam ad ministros, Act. 11 v. 2-18. (vgl. Cotton sub 4, en verder Voetius sub III, 5, 6).
Cotton 7: A seventh ... libertie of the church is liberty of
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communion with other churches. Communion we say, for it is a great libertie, that no particular church standeth in subjection to another particular church, no, not to a cathedrall church; but that all the churches injoy mutuall brotherly communion amongst themselves; which communion is mutually exercised amongst them seven ways ...: 1. By way of participation (dat de kerken elkanders leden tot het Avondmaal toelaten), 2. of recommandation, (attesten worden meegegeven aan hen die tijdelijk in een andere kerk verblijf houden), 3. of consultation (de kerken kunnen elkander raadplegen), 4. of congregation into a synod (de kerken kunnen een synode houden), 5. of contribution (financieele ondersteuning), 6. of admonition (de kerken kunnen elkander vermanen), 7. of propagation or multiplication of churches. — Voetius (sub II, 7): Quod juxta cum presbyterio, et nonnunquam ac in nonnullis seorsim potestatem habeat communicandi cum aliis ecclesiis idque variis modis, per participationem scil., commendationem, consultationem, contributionem, admonitionem etc. de quibus alibi dicendum.
Cotton, „The Keyes”, ch. V, Of the subject to whom The Key of Authority is committed, vergeleken met Pol. Eccl. I, 120, 121:
Cotton (inleiding): The Key of Authority or rule, is commited to the elders of the church, and so the act of rule is made the proper act of their office: the elders that rule well etc. 1 Tim. 5. 17, Hebr. 13. 1, 17. — Voetius (sub II, 1): Quod proprie vocentur rjyovjusvoi, rectores seu gubernatores, doctores, episcopi ..., Hebr. 13. 7, 17, 1 Tim. 5. 17, Actor. 20 enz.
Cotton 1: The speciall acts of this rule are many. The first and principall is ... the preaching of the Word with, all authority, and that which is annexed thereto, the administration of the Sacraments, or Seals: Speak, rebuke and exhort ... with all authority, Tit. 2. 15. And that the administration of the seals is annexed thereto, is plain from Matth. 28. 19, 20, Go ... make disciples and baptize them, etc. — Voetius (sub I, 1 en 2): Partes potestatis seu autoritatis ministerii et presbyterii a populo distincti statuimus istas ... 1. Quod ministri ordinario et cum speciali autoritate tan-quam dispensatores et ministri Christi (1 Cor. 4) praeeant in verbo, Tit. 2. 15, et sic ligent ac solvant enz. 2. Quod soli sacramenta administrent Matth. 28. 19.
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Cotton 2: A second act of authoritie common to the elders, is: they have power, as any weighty occasion shall require, to call the church together, as the Apostles called the church together for the election of deacons, Acts 6. 2. And in like sort are the priests of the O.T. stirred up to call a solemne assembly, to gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land, to sanctifie a Fast, Joel 1. 13,14. — Voetius (sub II, 2): Quod possint occasione ita exigente ecclesiam convocare et coetus indicere, Actor. 6. 2, et sic in V. T. sacerdotes, Joel 1 v. 13, 14.
Cotton 3: It is an act of their power, to examine, if the Apostles, then any others (wether officers or members) before they be received of the church, Rev. 2, 2. — Voetius (sub II, 3): Quod inquirant in ministros et membra admittenda, eosque probent, Apoc. 2 v. 2.
Cotton 4: A Fourth act of their rule is, the ordination of officers ( whom the people have chosen) whether elders or deacons, 1 Tim. 4. 14, Acts 6. 6. — Voetius (sub II, 4): Quod instituant et solemniter introducant presbyteros legitime electos, 1 Tim. 4. 14 cum Actor. 6. 6.
Cotton 5: It is an act of the key of authority, that the elders open the dooresi of speech and silence in the assembly. They were the rulers of the synagogue, who sent to Paul and Barnabas to open their mouthes in a word of exhortation, Acts 13, 15 ... — Voetius (sub II, 5): Quod sermonem inchoent, et silentium impo-nant, et in omnibus praesides agant in coetu ecclesiastico. Hic ordo a synagoga Act. 13. 15. ad ecclesiam derivatus fuit.
Cotton 6: It belongeth to the elders to prepare matters beforehand, which are to bee transacted by themselves, or others, in the face of the congregation as the apostles and elders being met at the house of James, gave direction to Paul how to carry himselfe that hee might prevent the offence of the church, when he should appeare before them, Acts 21. 18. Hence when the offence of a brother is (according to the rule in Matth. 18. 17) to be brought to the church, they are beforehand to consider and enquire whether the offence be really given or no, wether duly proved, and orderly proceeded in by the brethren, according to rule, and not duly satisfied by the offender; lest themselves and the church be openly cumbred with unnecessary and tedious agitations; but that all things transacted before he church, be carried along with most expedition and best aedification. In which respect
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they have power to reject causless and disorderly complaints, as well as to propound and handle just complaints before the congregation. — Voetius (sub III, 2): Quod in materia scandali materiam praeparent, omniaque agant ad illud praeveniendum, aut tollendum: ut ita coram multitudine ordine et expedite omnia peragantur Actor. 21 v. 18, docetque necessitas et ratio naturalis hunc modum procedendi, juxta Matth. 18 v. 16, 17.
Cotton 7: In the handling of an offence before the church, the elders have authority both Ius dicere and Sententiam ferre: When the offence appeareth truly scandalous, the elders have power from God to informe the church, what the Law of Christ is for the censure of such an offence; and when the church discernes the same, and hath no just exception against it, but condescendeth therto, it is a further act of the elders power, to give sentence against the offender. Both these acts of power in the ministers of the Gospel, are foretold by Ezekiel, chap. 44. 23, 24: They shall teach enz. — Voetius (sub III, 3): Quod in casu contumaciae, jus dicant, sententiam ecclesiae praeforment, et coram ea ac cum ea eandem ferant ac pronuncient, 1 Cor. 5. Quo referri potest praedictio illa Ezech. 44. 23, 24.
Cotton 8: The elders have power to dismisse the church with a blessing in the name of the Lord, Num. 6. 23 to 26, Hebr. 7. 7. — Voetius (sub II, 2): eandemque cum benedictione dimittere, ubi majoritas apparet, Num. 6. 23 cum Hebr. 7. 7 1).
Cotton 9: The elders have received power to charge any of the people in private, that none of them live either inordinately ... or scandalously enz. met beroep op 2 Thess. 3. — Voetius (sub III, 1): Quod possint quosvis privatim publiceque (si res ita tulerit) cum autoritate reprehendere, 2 Tim. 4. 2, 5.
Cotton 11 2): In case the church should fall away to blasphemy against Christ, and obstinate rejection and persecution of the way of grace, and either no Synod to be hoped for, or no help by a Synod, the elders have power to withdraw (or separate)) the disciples from them, and to carry away the ordinances with them, and there withall sadly to denounce the just judgement of God
1) Wanneer Hoornbeek Cotton citeert vertaalt
hij dit aldus: dimittere ecclesiam, cum benedictione, Num. VI.
23, quae est actio alicujus superioritatis, Hebr. 7. 7 (De
Independentismo, p. 259).
2) Onder het cijfer 10 verwijst Cotton voor de
bevoegdheid, die de ambtsdragers ter synodale vergadering kunnen
uitoefenen, naar het hoofdstuk over de synoden.
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against them, Acts 19. 9, Exod. 33. 7, Mark. 6. 11, Luk. 10. 11, Acts 13. 46. — Voetius (sub III, 4): Quod in casu corruptionis et ἀταξίας immedicabilis, aut quando scandalizantes ipsorum disciplinae subjecti non sunt, discipulos abducere possint, iisque in alterius ecclesiae, aut coetus separati formatione praeire, et malignantibus repudium pacis et fraternitatis mittere, Actor. 19. 9 et 13. 46 cum Rom. 16. 17. 18.